Archives For August 2014

While traveling in Boston, I came across the following words of George Washington, which he spoke at his Farewell Address:

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

To what degree can America succeed without the unwavering moral truths of religion? What do you think?

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16).

During communion today at St. Alphonsus Parish in Lemont, the choir sang the words, “Is not the cup we bless and share the blood of Christ outpoured? Do not one cup, one loaf, declare our oneness in the Lord?” Upon hearing these words, I couldn’t help but think of the beautiful reality of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. What a wonderfully simple, yet wonderfully complex mystery! Jesus shed his blood for us as a result of the tyranny of the crucifixion, but He offers himself to us now under the accidents of sweet and sour wine! How sour the Good Friday sacrifice! How sweet the Easter victory!